As we begin a new month, in this new year, I thought it would be helpful and perhaps educational for those who are newly joining us on Fast Wednesdays if I shared some information on the topic. There is a plethora of information out there. Most of the information below, I have shared previously but more than a year or two ago. Should you want more just let me know at djf52055@gmail.com

There are several types of fasting. The one you choose is between you and God. He will honor your best sacrifice. Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 14:12, 1 Corinthians 8:8). Within the Fast Wednesdays community some even fast from social media, coffee, or no deserts, etc. I know many of us, for various reasons, participate every week but in different manners as you might have an appointment or be traveling, etc. Many have still find Fast Wednesdays beneficial and the sisterhood (and small brotherhood) continues to grow! May God greatly bless us as we fast!

Full Fast

Drink only liquids (you establish the number of days).

The Daniel Fast

Eat no meat, no sweets and no bread. Drink water and juice. Eat fruits and vegetables.

3-Day Fast

This fast can be a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food.

Partial Fast

A partial fast is from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm or from sun up to sundown. You can select from three types of fasting —a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food.

Corporate Fasting:

Fasting is done as a “body” or group and you are all fasting in the same manner. Here’s some scripture on the topic.

The John the Baptist Fast – Fasting for an influential testimony (see Matthew 3:4; Luke 1:15). If we fast for the influence of our testimonies, God will use us.

The Esther Fast – Fasting for protection from the evil one (see Esther 4:16). If we fast for protection and deliverance from Satan, God will deliver us from evil.

More SCRIPTURES for FASTING & PRAYING:

Matthew 6:16-18 – Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. (Read More…)

Acts 14:23 – And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Joel 2:12 – Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye [even] to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

Mark 9:29 – And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Joel 1:14 – Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders [and] all the inhabitants of the land [into] the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,

Acts 13:3 – And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid [their] hands on them, they sent [them] away.

Esther 4:16 – Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which [is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

Acts 13:2 – As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Luke 2:37 – And she [was] a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served [God] with fastings and prayers night and day.

Isaiah 58:1-14 – Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Read More…)

Isaiah 58:6 – [Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

Matthew 9:14-15 – Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? (Read More…)

Ezra 8:21-23 – Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. (Read More…)

1 Corinthians 7:5 – Defraud ye not one the other, except [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Matthew 4:4 – But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 17:20-22 – And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Read More…)

Matthew 5:6 – Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Nehemiah 1:4 – And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned [certain] days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, we thank you for the opportunities to come boldly before you. We are asking to be in agreement as we fast and pray as it is commanded in your word. Create in us clean hearts and renew the right spirit within us as we embrace the fact that we are more than conquerors with certain victory as your word proclaims for each and everyone of us. Encourage, Enlighten and Empower us daily. Sometimes we fail and others triumph but other times we triumph and they fail. Its all because of your steadfast, faithful love for us. Help us to be faithful to you and all humanity. Bless our friends of other faiths, ethnicities, races, and any other differences which would make us polarize each other. Help us keep our focus on love, your greatest commandment. Amen.

Love, Joy and Peace,

Debra J. Ellis

Reminder AND/OR for those of you just joining us either by contacting me or I personally added you: The purpose of Fast Wednesdays is to draw near to God on this specific day of the week fasting and praying in whatever manner the Holy Spirit is leading you as sisters in Christ…some have fasted from social media, coffee, or observed a traditional fast with no eating from sunrise to sunset with only liquids for the day, no deserts, etc. I know many of us for various reasons participate every week but in different manners. This has still been beneficial and the sisterhood continues to grow!

The key ingredient is that we are doing this together as sisters, of all ages, in the Lord both chronologically and spiritually in accordance to: A God-Filled Life Titus 2:3-5 “Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior.”
Note: Please share Fast Wednesdays with your friends and/or send me names to add to the distribution list. For now, I will post in three places: email (djf52055@gmail.com), Facebook (Debra Fuller Ellis) and blog https://fastwednesdays.wordpress.com